Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 15 of 21 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $41,186 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $346k less ($305,600 vs $651,800)
89% less violent crime than Scottsdale
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $41,186/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Median Income
$41,186
$104,197 vs $63,011/yr
Scottsdale
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 79.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 104.0 on the COL index
Worcester
Violent Crime
89% lower
16.5 vs 152.5 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$346k less
$305,600 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 15 of 21 categories. Scottsdale wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Scottsdale to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($104,197 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Worcester, MA are about 2,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.